Archdiocese seeks citizenship for eligible legal residents in South Florida

April 29, 2013|By Mike Clary, Sun Sentinel

MIAMI — — The Archdiocese of Miami launched a campaign Monday aimed at making Americans out of some of the estimated 400,000 legal residents of South Florida,mostly immigrants who have lived here for years but have never applied for citizenship.

"I truly believe citizenship is the door to a better future because of the advantages and opportunities available only to citizens of this great country," said Archbishop Thomas Wenski at a press conference called to announce the New Americans Campaign. "Sometimes it seems too daunting, or the fees seem too much."

The Archdiocese, along with Catholic Legal Services, will offer a free Citizenship Mega Workshop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 22 at Miami Dade College's downtown campus to process applications. Up to 1,000 eligible residents will be able to fill out the required paperwork to seek citizenship, Archdiocese officials said.

Another workshop is scheduled later this year in Broward County, according to Randy McGrorty, Catholic Legal Services executive director. Some 200 attorneys and law students have volunteered to help with the workshops, McGrorty said.

For those who cannot afford the $680 filing fee, waivers are available, he said.

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami, whose district includes parts of Miami-Dade and south Broward counties, said many immigrants fall prey to scams in which legal residents pay monthly fees to those who promise to help them become citizens. But the day of citizenship never comes, she said.

Also on hand for the news conference were U.S. Rep Joe Garcia, D-Miami, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, and representatives of Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart, all Florida Republicans.

Among the organizations supporting the New Americans Campaign are the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, Hispanic Unity, Florida International University's School of Law and the Florida Immigrant Coalition.